Special Interests
The River Trails Park District offers numerous activities for youth and teens! Check out our current special interest class and Parkour Programs. Youth also enjoy our summer camps, dance and athletic programming.
Rockin’ Guitars
Learn to rock on the guitar! We cover the basics: chords, scales, rhythm & songs. Have your own guitar? Bring it! If not, we’ll supply one. Chad Berardi currently rocks Chicago with his own band, has been playing for 29 years & teaching for 17 years. No class on 11/24.
| Age | Location | Day | Time | Date | Fee per session |
| 7-14 yrs | Weiss Community Center | Tue | 4:30-5pm | Sep 15-Oct 27 | $90R/$108N |
| 7-14 yrs | Weiss Community Center | Tue | 4:30-5pm | Nov 10-Dec 15 | $64R/$77N |
Young Magicians
Join us for a fun night of magic and mystery! Magic tricks will be taught that include cards, coins, ropes, and much more! You will discover that the tricks are quick to learn and easy to perform. All materials are provided on site. Each child will receive a magic kit to take home at the end of class. Participants are grouped by age and learn age-appropriate tricks. New tricks are taught at each session, so sign up again and again.
| Age | Location | Day | Time | Date | Fee |
| 5-12 yrs | Arlington Heights Park District | Tue | 5-5:55pm | Oct 6 | $25R/$25N |
| 5-12 yrs | Arlington Heights Park District | Wed | 6:30-7:25pm | Dec 9 | $25R/$25N |
Computer Explorers
Reading with Robots
It’s story time with a twist! Once upon a time…”Pete the Cat” meets our robot Bee Bot, “Give the Mouse a Cookie” with Colby the robot, and many more adventures. This fun hands-on class will feature a different story and robot each week. Children will learn to program and code a robot to create their own exciteing adventure!.
| Age | Location | Day | Time | Date | Fee |
| 4-7 | Prospect Heights Park District | Mon | 5:30-6:30pm | Sep 14-Oct 5 | $74R/$89N |
Video Game Lab
Let’s create a game on the PC with Xbox controllers! using a visual programming language, students can learn about creativity, problem solving and collaboration. It’s not just about programming. Stretch your imagination to design and build fun-filled, challenging games!
| Age | Location | Day | Time | Date | Fee |
| 8-12 | The Zone | Mon | 5:45-7pm | Oct 19-Nov 9 | $93R/$111N |
Gears, Gears, Gears
Explore gears using LEGO as we work in teams of 2 and find out how gears make the world turn. We’ll make projects that crank, mesh, pump, push, pull, tug and grind- all of which turn out to be very useful simple machines!
| Age | Location | Day | Time | Date | Fee |
| 4-6 | Prospect Heights Park District | Mon | 5:30-6:30pm | Nov 16-Dec 14 | $74R/$89N |
Children’s Theater
A weekly musical theatre workshop culminates in a showcase featuring excerpts from smash hit movie musicals! Students will learn the basics of vocal technique, choreography, and acting while working together to produce an in-class performance for family and friends. The showcase will take place during the last 30 minutes of our final class. Indian Grove students will be walked over to Burning Bush after school by RTPD staff. Instructors: Margo Proeh, Gabrielle Garza, and Children’s Theater Staff.
| Grade | Show | Location | Day | Time | Date | Fee per session |
| K-6 | Trolls World Tour | Weiss Community Center | Wed | 3:30-4:30pm | Sep 16-Oct 28 | $128R/$148N |
| K-6 | Frozen 2 | Weiss Community Center | Wed | 3:30-4:30pm | Nov 4-Dec 16 | $109R/$129N |
Chess Scholars
Develop your child’s intellect through the royal games of chess! No previous knowledge of chess is necessary. Each class will consist of a fun interactive teaching period and guided practice time. Both beginner and experienced players are welcome and will get to the next level under the guidance of an experienced Chess Scholars coach. There will also be a chess competition with prizes at the end of the session. no class on 11/24.
Grade: K – 5
Location: TBA
| Day | Time | Date | Fee per session |
| Tue | 4-4:45pm | Sep 15-Oct 27 | $130R/$150N |
| Tue | 4-4:45pm | Nov 3-Dec 15 | $111R/$131N |
Smart Start Art
Explore your artistic side with the Smart Art Program from Afterschool Enrichment Solutions. Discover your creativity and imagination as an artist, develop fine-motor skills, style, and vision as we explore different artistic techniques through a variety of inspiring projects and play fun, exciting games. Sketch and draw, shade and color, cut, glue, fold….Create! No experience necessary. No class 11/26.
Grade: K – 4
Location: TBA
| Day | Time | Date | Fee |
| Thu | 4-4:45pm | Sep 17-Oct 29 | $130R/$150N |
| Thu | 4-4:45pm | Nov 12-Dec 17 | $93R/$111N |